Blessing:

Dearest Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word which guides us daily. Thank You that we can come to You and rest in You always. Thank You for seeing Jesus when You look at us and not all our sin and mess. Speak to us today, Father God and encourage our hearts. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Daily Bread:

In the crowd that day there was a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with hemorrhages. She had spent every penny she had on doctors but not one had been able to help her. She slipped in from behind and touched the edge of Jesus’ robe.

Luke 8:43-45 The Message

Main Course:

Shame. It’s got to be one of the enemy’s greatest weapons. It keeps us paralyzed in fear.

“What if ‘they’ knew what I have done?”

“I have fallen so many times. No one would probably be surprised.”

“She has it so together. She would be shocked and sickened by the mess that I am.”

Newsflash: WE ALL HAVE THINGS IN OUR LIVES THAT WE ARE ASHAMED OF.

Maybe it happened when you were in high school. The one night stand that led to an unwanted pregnancy and eventually an abortion.

Maybe it happened this week. The flirtatious comments at work that led to a lunch meeting. The risqué emails that were exchanged. That led to you working late. And you know where it’s headed.

Maybe it’s been happening for years. You were prescribed the pills but somehow now you can’t seem to get through a day without them. It’s not so much the pain, but they keep you from feeling anything.

It started as an innocent drink with friends and turned into an addiction. First, a couple of times a week ... then, every night. And suddenly, every couple of hours you find yourself needing a drink. It hasn’t interfered with work, so you justify it and brush it off as a bad habit.

Whatever your shame, mark it down that the enemy wants to keep it a secret. Shame isolates. It justifies. And most of all, shame keeps us from getting the help that we need. At the core of every shameful experience we have in life, is a gaping hole that can only be filled with a relationship with Christ.

Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? I mean, just say “yes” to Jesus and everything will be okay. Quite the contrary. When you say yes to Jesus, the enemy will, without a doubt turn up the heat. It will get harder. The temptation, the addiction, the failures will surface stronger than ever before.

Fair? No. Reality? Yes.

You can count on it. The extreme life of faith is one with peaks and valleys. Once Jesus has your heart, the devil tries to distract you with all the things that you struggle with. Then, he tells you that you must ‘sneak up behind’ Jesus and ask for forgiveness, because Jesus would never want to be associated with a woman as dirty as you.

Reflection:

The devil is a liar.

Jesus did not come and die on a cross for those who have it all together. He came to put back together those of us who are falling apart. Perfect people don’t need a Savior. They need a good dose of reality and the touch of the Only Perfect Person to set foot on planet earth.

Your Turn:

Does shame have a grip on you?

What are you ashamed of?

Jesus is waiting for you to ask for His help. Will you reach out to Him?

Will you accept the help that you need?

Closing Prayer:

Dear Father God, Please help us to accept the fact that Jesus paid it ALL. On The Cross He paid for all of our sins. They are nailed there for all eternity. Please help us to rest in Your grace! In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

What is God showing you through this study? We’d love to know. Leave us a comment and share your thoughts.

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1 Comment

“Then, he tells you that you must ‘sneak up behind’ Jesus and ask for forgiveness, because Jesus would never want to be associated with a woman as dirty as you.” – Carol Davis

WOW! What a powerful statement? Such a bold face lie, yet one that holds so much truth! Satan is forever trying to convince us that Jesus doesn’t need us … and guess what … he is right! Jesus doesn’t need us … BUT He does want us. Completely dirty and full of shame. Beaten and broken. Just as we are. That’s how Jesus wants us.

“Jesus did not come and die on a cross for those who have it all together. He came to put back together those of us who are falling apart.” – Carol Davis

Why do we try to clean ourselves up before we come to Him, especially when it’s only through Him that we will ever be completely clean … without spot or blemish! The only way we will ever be allowed into the presence of the Father is through a cleansing only Jesus can provide. “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6